Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part V: UK Perspectives on Research and Innovation Security

The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) is pleased to host the next webinar in its Research and Innovation Series (RIS), focusing on how the United Kingdom conceptualises and implements research and innovation security, balancing openness, competitiveness, and national security. 

The event will begin with a presentation by Andrew James, Professor of Innovation Management & Policy at Alliance Manchester Business School, followed by a moderated discussion and Q&A session. 

Organized by the Stockholm Center for Research and Innovation Security (SCRIS), this webinar series aims to promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas on research and innovation, while deepening understanding of the policies and factors that shape security developments. Scholars, practitioners, and experts from diverse fields are invited to join the conversation. 

The discussion will be moderated by ISDP’s Director, Niklas Swanström, and will explore key questions such as: 

• How does the UK define and operationalize Trusted Research across universities and research institutes?
• How does the UK seek to manage research security risks in industry? 
• What mechanisms help institutions identify and mitigate risks in international research partnerships, particularly in areas involving sensitive or strategic technologies? 
• How do governance structures, due diligence processes, and researcher awareness initiatives contribute to a secure research environment? 
• How can governments and institutions balance the benefits of open and collaborative research with the need to protect national security and prevent misuse of critical research? 

We look forward to engaging with Andrew James and the participants in this important discussion on the intersection of innovation, security, and policy. 

Speaker:

Dr. Andrew James is Professor of Innovation Management & Policy, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, University of Manchester, UK. He has a particular interest in the geopolitics of science, technology and innovation, especially research security issues in international research collaborations. In 2025-26, he led a study on UK academic awareness of research security and its impact on behaviour in international research collaboration. This involved a survey of more than 450 academics and 31 in-depth interviews with scientists. The study was funded by the UKRI/ESRC under its SALIENT programme on societal resilience. In 2024-25, he led a study for the UK government’s Science & Technology Network mapping threats and opportunities to UK security in European security research focusing on research security policies and practices in European universities and public research institutes.

Find the recordings of previous webinars in the series here.